Collapsible lectern



March 26, 1957 F. N. CQS ROVE 2,786,299

COLLAPSIBLE LECTERN Filed April 30, 1956 5 FNCO sir-01x9 WTTORXEYS United States Patent 2,786,299 COLLAISIBLE LECTERN Francis N. Cosgrove, Pierre, S. Dak. Application April 30, 1956, Serial No. 581,647 1 Claim. (Cl. 4557) The present invention relates to collapsible lecterns, and more particularly to such devices which are adapted to be vertically adjusted.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible lectern which can be folded into a relatively flat package and which can be adjusted vertically when erected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible lectern which is extremely stable in erected position and not likely to collapse when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible lectern of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use and adjust, and durable in service.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention shown partly broken away for clarity.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the invention shown in collapsed position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed crosssection similar to Figure 2 illustrating a second position of adjustment of the lectern.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a lectern constructed in accordance with the invention. The lectern 10 includes a flat generally rectangular panel 11 having a piano hinge 12 secured to the lower edge thereof by means of rivets 13 or other suitable fasteners. 1

A piano hinge 14 is secured to the upper edge of th panel 11 by means of rivets 15 or other suitable fasteners with the pintles of the hinges 12 and 14 arranged in parallel relation. A rectangular panel 16 is secured to the piano hinge 14 at its upper edge by means of rivets 17 or other suitable fastening elements.

A rectangular panel 18 has one end edge thereof secured to the piano hinge 12 by means of rivets 19 or any other suitable fastening means. A flange 20 extends upwardly from the end edge of the panel 18 opposite the hinge 12, as best illustrated in Figure 2. In erected position the lower end edge of the panel 16 is adapted to engage the flange 20 to lock the lectern 10 in erected position.

An elongated bracket generally indicated at 21 is provided with a base portion 22 which is secured to the panel 11 by means of rivets 23 or any other suitable fastening means. The bracket 21 has a medial wall 24 which extends integrally perpendicularly from the upper edge of the base 22. The medial wall 24 is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 25 which is integrally joined with the outer edge of the medial wall 24 and extends perpendicularly thereto.

The bracket 21 extends transversely of the panel 11 and is parallel to the hinge 14. A movable generally rectangular support panel 26 is provided at its lower edge with a perpendicularly extending flange 27, as best illustrated in Figure 2. The support panel 26 is adapted to engage the face of the panel 11 with the flange 27 resting against the medial wall 24 and bearing against "ice the flange 25 to permit the support panel 26 to extend well above the lectern 10 to accommodate the lectern 10 to tall persons or low tables.

Referring now to Figure 4 it can be seen that the support panel 26 can be positioned against the panel 16 with the flange 27 engaging the flange 20 of the panel 18 with the lectern 10 being reversed so that the papers would then be carried adjacent the panel 16 lying on the support panel 26.

Speeches, lectures, political talks, dedication ceremonies, and similar activities are often carried on at places and under conditions which prevent the use of permanent lecterns to hold the speakers notes. Under such conditions the speaker must often use extremely make-shift supports with the attendant danger that they might collapse during the talk seriously inconveniencing the speaker if not ruining the talk due to the interruption.

With the present invention the speaker can carry the collapsible lectern with him and erect it on any support available, such as a table, counter, shelf, or the like. Furthermore, with the present lectern the height at which the speakers notes are held can be adjusted to accommodate for tall speakers or low supports.

In the use and operation of the invention, the lectern is positioned with the panel 18 resting on a table, or other support, and with the panels 11 and 16 projecting upwardly therefrom to form a triangle, as illustrated in Figure 2. The support panel 26 is positioned in its upper position held by the bracket 21, as illustrated in Figure 2, or is positioned in its lower position held by the flange 20, as illustrated in Figure 4, to suit the needs of the speaker and his note papers 28 are positioned against the support panel 26 with their lower edge supported by the flange 27.

The lectern 10 can be collapsed by folding the panel 16 inwardly to engage the panel 11 and then folding the panel 18 inwardly to engage the panel 16, as illustrated in Figure 3. After the panels 11, 16 and 18 are collapsed the panel 26 can be inserted between the panels 16 and 18 with the flange 27 engaging a side edge thereof, also as illustrated in Figure 3. The compact lectern package formed on collapsing the lectern 10 permits the device to be stored and transported with ease.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A lectern comprising a rectangular panel, a hinge secured to one edge of said panel, a second rectangular panel secured to said hinge, an upper projecting flange secured to said second panel along its edge opposite said hinge, a second hinge secured to said first panel adjacent the edge thereof opposite said first hinge, a pair of rectangular panels secured to said second hinge, the edge of said third panel opposite said second hinge engaging said flange locking said lectern in erected position, a bracket secured to said first named panel adjacent the edge carrying said second hinge in parallel relation to said hinge, said bracket having a flange formed thereon in spaced parallel relation to said first panel, a support plate, and a perpendicular extending flange integrally formed on the lower end edge of said support plate for engaging the flange on said bracket with the support plate extending upwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,278,619 Fant Sept. 10, 1918 1,923,351 Woodley Aug. 22, 1933 2,152,557 Moore, et a1. Mar. 28, 1939 2,192,574 Mancher Mar. 5, 1940 

